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North York military stabbing suspect faces nine charges

Ayanle Hassan Ali , 27, accused in an assault at a Canadian Forces recruitment centre Monday, appeared solemn in court Tuesday afternoon.

Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders says the suspect in a double stabbing at a military recruitment centre called out "Allah told me to" carry out the attack. Montreal native Ayanle Hassan Ali is facing several charges, including attempted murder.()

The man accused of an unprovoked attack at a Canadian Forces recruitment centre Monday appeared solemn in court Tuesday afternoon and is “very scared,” according to his lawyer, who said it is “way too early to speculate” on his client’s mental health.

Ayanle Hassan Ali, 27, now faces nine charges stemming from the afternoon attack. He faces three counts of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of assault with a weapon and one count for possessing a weapon (for a dangerous purpose).

Ryan Kong, Jesus Castillo and Tracy Ann Gerhardt are the victims of Monday’s attack, according to court documents. Two of the victims were taken to hospital following the assault with minor injuries but have since been released.

Justice William Danbrook also approved the Crown’s request to remand Ali for three days as the investigation continues. He is due back in court on March 18.

Avoiding the stares of a packed Finch Ave. courtroom, Ali looked at the floor and to his side. He wears a thick beard, was dressed in a white hooded jumpsuit that zipped up to the collar.

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The man walked past a master corporal stationed at the door of the centre on Monday afternoon and then stabbed him when the soldier tried to stop him. He then stabbed another military member who tried to apprehend him, Police Chief Mark Saunders said at a news conference.
(Colin Perkel)

Ali was born in Montreal but moved to Toronto in 2011. He currently lives in an Etobicoke apartment.

David Burke, Ali’s lawyer, spoke briefly to reporters outside the courthouse, and confirmed his client has no prior convictions. But he would not comment on Ali’s personal life, including his living arrangements, lifestyle, or what brought him to Toronto.

The lawyer for a man charged with stabbing and wounding two soldiers at a Toronto military recruitment centre says his client seems 'very scared' and 'very unhappy.' Ayanle Hassan Ali made a brief court appearance on Tuesday.()

When asked if Burke thought the response to Monday’s attack was a bit of an “overreaction,” Burke said, “This is a very serious incident, nobody can deny that…Overreaction, I wouldn’t say that, but at the end of the day, it remains to be seen exactly what kind of a person we are dealing with.”

Burke said it was “way too early to speculate” on his client’s mental health.

“We’re certainly not at the point of looking to have him assessed,” he said, adding his client appears very scared and “very unhappy to be in the position he finds himself in today.”

Ali was supposed to appear in court Tuesday morning but his appearance was pushed until the afternoon for questioning, which Burke said was “rather unusual” and that he hadn’t had the chance to speak with him.

Burke did not want to comment on whether he’d spoken with Ali’s family, but said the defence would seek bail if the appropriate sureties are in place.

“If, in fact, we do not feel we have the appropriate sureties, and as I said, they’d have to be strong sureties, this gentleman is not going to be let out on bail for anything but the best of plans.”

The attack happened just before 3 p.m. at the Joseph Shepard Building, on Yonge St. just north of Sheppard Ave. At a news conference Tuesday morning, Saunders said Ali was armed with a large knife, and called out: “Allah told me to do this. Allah told me to come here and kill people.”

“It was heard by others,” Saunders, later cautioning, “Don’t go to that Islamophobic nonsense.”

Saunders said the investigation is in the early stages. The OPP, RCMP and CSIS were also called in to help.

Two military personnel who worked at the Joseph Shepard Building were taken to hospital and have been released, Toronto police Chief Saunders said. (Carlos Osorio)

The man walked past a master corporal stationed at the door of the centre at 2:45 p.m. on Monday afternoon and then stabbed him when the soldier tried to stop him, Saunders said. He then cut another military member who tried to apprehend him, he said.

Ali didn’t cooperate with police after he was arrested, Saunders said, calling him, “unresponsive to any questions that were being asked.”

Saunders appealed to anyone who knows Ali or who saw anything suspicious around the recruiting centre on Monday afternoon to contact police.

“We are trying to develop a timeline,” Saunders said. “We want to know who knew Mr. Ali and where he has been.”

Asked if Ali had been radicalized, Saunders said, “It’s too early to say any of that.”

In a tweet Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada’s military would “not be intimidated by terror and hate.” He also wished the injured soldiers a full recovery.

Speaking to media Tuesday morning, Major Richard Silva said it was “business as usual” for Canadian Forces workers on Tuesday morning.

“They’re prepared to do their duties,” Silva said.

He, too, declined to comment on whether there has been any higher alert recently regarding possible terrorism.

“We always have to take care of our own people,” Silva said.

Security officers roamed the open concept dimly-lit building. But they did not appear to be carrying guns. There are several security cameras outside the recruitment centre. A guard at the front desk confirmed there was more security Tuesday.

The suspect was taken to a hospital Monday to be evaluated because he was not responsive to questions, Saunders said.

Ayanle Hassan Ali arrives at the courthouse in a police car on Tuesday. He's facing nine charges, including three counts of attempted murder. (Chris Young)

According to the office of the Minister of National Defence, there were no warning signs before the attack.

“No suspicious activity had been observed by Canadian Armed Forces members who work in that location prior to the incident. CAF members will continue to exercise vigilance and apply the necessary force protection measures.”

The Joseph Shepard Building is a 15-storey, modern office building with a roughly pyramidal shape. The sprawling, 51,485-square-metre complex is open to the public, with public art, a courtyard and open terraces.

There are security cameras along its outside walls of the massive building, which has a front entrance that’s almost as large as the building is wide.

The doors lead to a warren of government offices, including one for issuing passports, as well as open-air terraces and a public courtyard and public shopping mall.

The Canadian Forces recruitment office where the attack took place is tucked away on the main floor, between an escalator and a cement staircase, about 40 yards and straight ahead from the front doors.

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